The excellence of the Fonplégade estate through the centuries
The charm of an exceptional terroir
THEChâteau Fonplégadeit emerged as early as the 13th century on the illustriousplateau
Saint-Emilion, a major wine-growing area. It owes its name to the fountain that can still be found on the property today, Fonplégade meaning “Fountain of AbundanceIndeed, it continues to flow, even in years of severe drought. Since the 15th century, viticulture has brought renown to the area, benefiting from the exceptional terroir of theSaint-Emilion appellationThe castle as we know it today was created when the famous merchant acquired the estate.Jean-Pierre BeylotFonplégade was founded in 1852. It was finally acquired in 2004 by Denise and Stephen Adams, who fell in love with Saint-Émilion during their honeymoon. For the past 15 years, they have been working to guide the château towards excellence, revitalizing the vineyards, renovating the winery, and restoring the château itself.
A pioneering field in organic farming
The ambitions of the Fonplégade estate
Denise and Stephen AdamsThey firmly believe that biodiversity is the only way to produce balanced and harmonious wines sustainably. This is why they were pioneers on Bordeaux's right bank in transferring their vineyard to theorganic farming, for which they received thecertification in 2013After three years of hard work, and with such compelling results, they now aspire to convert to biodynamic farming. Following this philosophy, the estate is home not only to vines, but also to sheep, chickens, and bees. Furthermore, all vineyard work is done by hand. Finally, to bring each grape to perfect ripeness, the vineyard is not worked plot by plot or even row by row, but rather vine by vine, ensuring the most personalized care possible. Thus, through this meticulous approach to cultivating vines ranging from 25 to 75 years old, Domaine Fonplégade further reveals the exceptional terroir that enables the production of...classified growths.
The Château's expertise
Soils of unparalleled richness
THEChâteau FonplégadeThe 18.5-hectare estate is comprised of no fewer than 27 different plots. Located on the southwest slope of the plateau ofSaint-EmilionEach plot is cultivated on terraces to obtain the best Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, destined to produce world-renowned wines. The rich mosaic of soils (composed partly of limestone and clay), and the great geological and geographical diversity, allows for the production of exceptional grape varieties. Once in the winery, the combination of modern and traditional methods allows the full complexity of the terroir to be expressed.Château FonplégadeThus, vintage after vintage, the wines produced offer a beautiful balance between fruit, aromatic length, and complexity. They feature silky tannins, a velvety texture, and a lovely minerality. These are excellent wines for aging, which you can enjoy between 5 and 20 years after bottling.
